Nine in court after fatal acid attack

A police officer in uniform stands guard at a cordon outside a row of grey-bricked terraced houses in Plymouth. He is standing behind a line of police tape. A police forensics van is parked next to him on the road. The roof of a police car can also be seen.
Image caption,

Danny Calahane was attacked with acid at his home on Lipson Road in Plymouth

  • Published

Nine people have appeared in Plymouth Crown Court in connection with the murder of a 38-year-old man from Plymouth.

Danny Cahalane was taken to hospital on 21 February following a serious assault involving acid on Lipson Road. He died in hospital three months later on 3 May.

All nine defendants have been charged with involvement in an organised crime group which was supplying drugs or storing drugs. It is also alleged the group was involved the enforcement of drug debts through violence.

Six of the defendants, five men, all in their 20s and from London, and a 34-year-old woman from Plymouth have been charged with murder. Three of the accused pleaded not guilty.

Danny Cahalane, a blond man in a white shirtImage source, Devon and Cornwall police
Image caption,

Danny Cahalane was described by his family as an "outstanding father and son"

The nine defendants include seven men in their 20s from London, and two women in their 30s from Plymouth.

Six of the nine defendants pleaded not guilty to involvement in an organised crime group:

Paris Wilson, 34, of The Quay, Plymouth

Jenna Said, 38, of Ernesettle Green, Plymouth

Israel Augustus, 25, of Pulford Road, London

Isanah Sungum, 21 of Sterling Way, London

Jean Mukuna, 23, from Werrington Street, London

Arrone Mukuna, 24, of Werrington Street, London

The remaining three from London, Brian Kalemba, 22, of Eastbury Square, Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja, 22, of North Circular Road and Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole, 22, of Junction Road are yet to be asked to enter pleas.

Mr Augustus, Mr Adedoja, Mr Bakas-Sithole, Kalemba and Mr Sungum all from London, and Ms Wilson of Plymouth, have been charged with murder.

Of the six, Ms Wilson, Mr Sungum and Mr Augustus pleaded not guilty. The remaining three had yet to be asked to enter pleas.

Eight defendants have been remanded in custody, while one has been remanded on conditional bail.

A trial is due to take place at Winchester Crown Court on 13 January.

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